Vincent Koch

Vincent Philip Koch was born on March 13, 1990, in Empangeni, South Africa. He began his youth rugby career with Boland Cavaliers from 2006 to 2008, followed by a stint with the Blue Bulls from 2009 to 2010. Koch further developed his skills playing for UP Tuks from 2011 to 2012. His professional senior career started with the Blue Bulls in 2012, where he made three appearances. He then played for the Pumas from 2012 to 2016, making 51 appearances and scoring 40 points. During this period, he also joined the Stormers for the 2015 and 2016 Super Rugby seasons, playing in 33 matches and scoring 35 points.

In 2016, Koch moved to England, joining Saracens, where he spent six seasons and made 110 appearances, scoring 50 points. With Saracens, he achieved significant success, winning Premiership titles in 2018 and 2019, and the European Champions Cup in 2017 and 2019. Following his tenure with Saracens, he signed with Premiership rivals Wasps for the 2022-23 season. However, Wasps entered administration in October 2022, leading to Koch’s redundancy alongside other players and staff. He then moved to France, joining Stade Français in October 2022, where he played 12 matches.

Koch returned to his home province in South Africa, joining the Sharks ahead of the 2023–24 United Rugby Championship season. He made his debut on March 23, 2024, after recovering from a knee injury sustained during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He was named Man of the Match in the 2023–24 EPCR Challenge Cup final, where the Sharks defeated Gloucester. On the international stage, Koch debuted for South Africa against the All Blacks in Johannesburg on July 25, 2015. He has since earned 62 test caps, scoring 5 points, and was a key member of the Springbok squads that won the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and 2023.